Prague Mayor to return to normal duties after climbing Mt Everest

Prague Mayor Pavel Bem, who climbed Mt Everest ten days ago, is due to take part in a regular city council meeting on Tuesday after two months spent in the Himalayas, his deputy told reporters. Mr Bem left the country at the end of March along with a group of alpinists. He reached the summit of Mt Everest on May 18th, only the tenth Czech to climb the world's tallest peak. Although Mr Bem was criticised both inside and outside his party for taking two months leave from his post as mayor of Prague, the city hall leadership as well as part of the opposition say his absence did not affect the operation of the office.